The Bombay High Court has permitted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fell approximately 45,000 mangroves for the 26.3-km Versova–Bhayander Coastal Road project, as reported by TOI.
This decision, aimed at easing Mumbai’s chronic traffic, reduces travel time between Versova and Bhayander from two hours to under 20 minutes. While granting approval, the court accepted a suggestion to keep the plea pending for ten years to ensure strict monitoring.
The BMC must now provide yearly progress reports on compensatory afforestation starting in 2027. This highlights the ongoing struggle to balance rapid urban infrastructure needs with the preservation of Mumbai’s vital natural flood barriers.
Versova–Bhayander Road
The Versova–Bhayander road acts as a northern extension of the existing Coastal Road, designed to decongest the Western Express Highway. The BMC argued that the project is essential for public utility, saving fuel and cutting carbon emissions by 55 percent.
However, the path intersects 102 hectares of forest land, largely consisting of protected mangroves. Under a 2018 judicial mandate, no mangroves can be destroyed without the High Court’s specific finding of public interest.
While environmentalists warned of “ecological suicide,” the court noted that the project is outside eco-sensitive zones and serves a significant portion of the city’s commuting population.
Sharp Criticsm
The verdict has triggered intense debate regarding the efficacy of compensatory afforestation, particularly with a significant portion of the replanting slated for the distant Chandrapur district. Environmental activists and climate scientists warn that Mumbai is increasingly vulnerable, with sea levels rising at an alarming rate.
According to a study, Mumbai may lose about 10% of land by 2040 due to climate change-induced sea-level rise. Mangroves act as the city’s primary “soft protection” against storm surges and coastal erosion. Public reaction on social media has been sharply critical.
Afforestation Targets
To mitigate the loss, the court has imposed a compensatory ratio requiring the BMC to plant three times the number of mangroves removed. This includes statutory afforestation on 103 hectares in Chandrapur and restoration of 68.5 hectares temporarily affected during construction.
Senior counsel Aspi Chinoy suggested the ten-year judicial oversight to prevent data from being lost on unmonitored websites. Consequently, the BMC must file annual updates every second Monday of the year.
An official stated that identifying 84 hectares in Palghar for over 1.3 lakh saplings is already underway, with the project expected to be fully operational by December 2028.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that development should never come at the cost of the very ecosystems that protect us. Mangroves are Mumbai’s natural sponges; removing 45,000 of them weakens the city’s first line of defence against rising sea levels and monsoon flooding.
While a 20-minute commute is life-changing for many, the “compensatory” planting in distant Chandrapur cannot replace the local flood protection lost in suburban creeks. We welcome the High Court’s ten-year monitoring mandate as a step toward accountability.
